While a lot of people assume that trees are self-sustaining, the truth is they require regular care if you truly want them to be the best they can be.
Trees in urban and suburban environments are under a lot more stress than trees of the forest where nutrients are readily available. In a forest, fallen leaves naturally decompose and provide a nutrient rich soil which is moist from ample shade, and without the competition of turfgrasses.
Without those natural benefits in the home landscape, tree fertilization can make up for harsher conditions and provide many benefits to help trees to survive on your property.
Here are five key reasons you should consider fertilizing your trees in the fall.
1. Fertilize For Stronger Tree Roots
As the quote goes, “A tree without roots is just a piece of wood.” While they’re underground and can’t be seen, it is the roots of a tree that are most vital to its existence. That’s why it’s so important to give your trees the nutrient support they need to develop a healthy root system.
With deep root tree fertilization, you’ll supply nutrients where they are truly needed most--at the root level. Delivering essential nutrients in the soil beneath tree canopies encourages root systems to develop the thousands of tiny, fibrous roots that absorb water and nutrients.
Healthy root systems also provide the anchor to your yard’s precious trees. Most trees have a root system that is even larger than their canopy and in order for the tree to fully thrive, it’s important that the entire tree root system is fertilized. Getting those key nutrients down to the roots will pay off with better root growth and an overall healthier tree.
2. Fertilize Trees to Replace Nutrients
Fertilizing trees in the fall is important timing, particularly for deciduous trees, as many key nutrients are used up earlier in the year, producing leaves and fruit. To replenish those lost nutrients and prepare your trees for the next growing season, tree fertilization is key. When nutrients are replaced, your tree is in turn, much less stressed.
Deep Root Tree Fertilization will replenish the ever-diminishing natural soil nutrients available to your trees and shrubs, giving you a healthier landscape that’s more vibrant and resilient. The best tree fertilizers have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and also bionutritional materials that enhance root development. This goes beyond what conventional tree fertilizers can do.
With an approaching winter, resiliency is incredibly important. Trees have to be ready with the nutrients they’ll need to grow next spring. Replacing lost nutrients now will have your tree ready to go.
3. Fertilization Improves Tree Color
The beautiful foliage colors of fall are likely one of your favorite things about your home’s treescape. Nothing says autumn like a backyard brightened by hues of bright reds, oranges, and yellows, brilliant magentas, and even blues and browns. But as a tree loses nutrients, one of the first places that loss becomes noticeable is in its color.
Yellowing leaves are often an indicator that there’s a problem. While some trees do naturally produce bright yellow leaves in the fall such as certain maple or ash trees, sometimes a pale yellowing of the leaves is a sign that the tree is not receiving ample nutrients.
You may also notice that fewer leaves are blooming or they are smaller than they should be. These are also indicators that your tree could benefit from fall tree fertilizer.
With a tree fertilization program, you can ensure your tree has the beautiful colors it was meant to have.
4. Fertilization Improves Vigor
In general, the health of your trees depends on key nutrients. As those nutrients are lost, your tree may become susceptible to disease or insects. Without the right nutrients, a tree may also fail to meet its full potential both in height and in its foliage growth. These are all key reasons why fertilizing trees in the fall gives them the best chance for optimal health.
Fertilizing is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the good health of your trees and to ward off future problems. With deep root tree fertilization nutrients are injected into the soil and down into the root system. This protects your trees from diseases and insects, allowing them to thrive.
A deep root tree fertilization is just a part of an overall Plant Health Care Program that can provide peace of mind. By being on your property every 5 to 6 weeks throughout the growing seasons, tree care technicians will always on the lookout for problems. If they spot an issue while working on one of your trees, they’ll be able to address it directly.
5. Fertilization Extends Tree Life
At the end of the day, what you probably want most out of your tree is a long life. Trees are an investment that pay you back with not only curb appeal but memories. People plant trees for many reasons whether it be simply for their enjoyment, for privacy, or maybe even to commemorate a special occasion like an anniversary or a birth. For these reasons, trees are incredibly valuable and should be protected.
Oftentimes when a tree begins to show problems, it can be too late to fix it. When you consider the cost of replacing just one mid-size tree or shrub, it is typically more than it would have cost to properly care for it in the first place. In order to preserve your tree’s long life, it is wise to invest in fall tree fertilizer. In addition, periodic treatments for pests that feed on trees is also important in protecting your investment.
Why You Should Use a Professional Tree Fertilization Service
If you’re considering fertilizing your fall trees, it makes sense to use professional help. While the big box stores sell tree fertilizer spikes, it’s simply not going to distribute the fertilizer evenly throughout the root system, where trees need it the most. A professional, like Oasis, will have access to not only the advanced equipment that works best, but also professional grade products that will be most effective.
Our deep root tree fertilization treatment is a custom blend of essential elements plus bionutritional materials which restores soil health, develops even more tiny fibrous roots, and replaces many of the natural elements found in forest soil that suburban landscapes simply don’t have.
At Oasis, we fertilize deciduous trees in the fall and evergreens in the spring. We can complete tree fertilization into the late fall, or even early winter, right up until the ground freezes. In other words, there is still plenty of time to make sure your precious investment is protected.
If you’d like to find out more about Oasis Turf & Tree’s fall tree fertilization, contact us or call us at 513-697-9090.
Image Sources: chlorotic leaves